Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-26


that the Bosrd shall make the appoint
ments of local boards. Under it, the Board
has not delegated to the Secretary the au-
thority of making such appointments, and
they could not, if they so desired, because,
it is well known principle OF Law, that
delegated authority can not be delegated.
In 8 letter to me on the subject OF pub
lie health, not long since, DR.. Harris took
occasion to say, II have telt that "a q gen
eral proposition, the members OF the Board
have not oUly known but little about such
matters, bu. have taken but little interest
that they have seemed to feel that 1t was
all delegated to the Secretary"
WHAT egotism. Yet 20 sooner are ms
peculiar methods called IN question than
he attempts to create diversion in his IA
vor by telling them that if he is guilty OF a
wrong they are equally so.
He refers to his registration of vital sta
tisties law in the following strain:
II need hardly say anything in defense
of G complete system of registration" The
regulations for carrying it into effect are
not original with me, bat are copied from
those suggested by other State Boards"
sr'T PERFECT REGISTRATION!
wish TO refer to the oath section of this
law, chapter Ga of the Acts Of ~, the
whole of which, with the exception OF the
twenty five cent clause, was taken from
section of the Illinois registration law.
l have publicly referred to it in general
way before.
But since the Doctor has been pleased to
enter the plea Of expense 10 the State and
inconvenience to the members of the State
Board Occasioned by extra meetings, IN
justification Of his action in appointing TO-
cal boards contrary TO statutory provisions.
| wish TO refer TO it again in such manner
las will prove his Inconsistency.
Under the authority OF said section he
has prepared blank form upon which
physicians are required, under penalty OF
zen dollars tn make return of all deaths
to the County Court clerks of the county
OF their residence, which contains twenty
six blank spaces to be filled. He has pre-
pared form, under authority OF same sec
tion, for the return Of births under like
penalties, which contains the same number
of blauk spaces. No inconvenience TO the
busy practitioner of medicine in that!
A. an evidence Of the care exercised IN
"copyinr" that which would be best suit
able Tor our State, he evideUtly selected the
blank form for the return Of birth, IN use
in q State having ludian population, as
in the fourth blank space the physician.
midwife, or other person making the re.
tnrn is directed 90 insert twhitc, black,
redl ~ the case may be, He need not be
Il Indian. ~ tDiG State
But TIE wOrpt aud most serious feature
of tHe whole bill is the provision for the
payment of % cents for each report Ie-
turned, which will entail an expense upon
the taxpayers of something over two
Thousand dollars more than the combined
salaries Of the Governor, Treasurer, Au-
ditor, Secretary Of State and the Attol ney
General OF, ;hC State. An additional tax
of over ten Thousand dollars annually 70!
the return of births aud deaths alone.
want to mention the fart
that he forgot to add n repeating
clause to his bill, which little bit OF absent
miudcdness on his part leaves the old law
still in operation also, am not surprised
that the gentleman wants TO go along rs
quietly rs may be III the organization OF
local boards, anG without attracting more
attention than is possible.
But ] shall he very much surprised If
the citizens and taxpayers Of tbs State do
cot agree with Inc, that he has sadiied an
iniouiiOus and useless tax upon them,
and that Il is necessary for their protection
that he be required to conform strictly 70
the law regulating his duties.
In conclusion, | do not wish to be I'M
jerstuod rs Oppressed to the accurate regis
istr,tj0n or vital Statistics for it
is of such acknowledged value as
an element in the political
economy OF all well governed Commu-
,jtir4. that it has long ceased TO he n
question whether il ~ worth while TO keep
such registration. But | am opposed to
the raymeut OF such an enormous sum 30
procure such registration. rs required
under the Harris SYSTEM" with which
the State is ut present cursed. OF course
1t will be- repealed hy the next Legislature;
hut it ought to serve as lesson TO teach
members Of that body 10 sean more close
IL IL the future, such bills aS may be
offered Tor their consideration, by amateur
vital statisticianS.
GEO. l. GARRISON, NJ. d.,
Member Stale Board OF Health.
IYhntIiag, ". JG., Nor. %, 1887.